Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s last gambit — refusal to resign her post — ended in an anti-climax of sorts as Governor RN Ravi dissolved the state’s legislative assembly. The term of the assembly was due to expire post-midnight on Thursday. In the evening, the Raj Bhavan made public a letter issued yesterday “for general information”.
The single-line communication read: “In exercise of the power conferred on me by sub-clause (b) of Clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India, I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 07th of May 2026”.
Under Article 172 of the Constitution, the assembly dissolves after its five-year term is over and the outgoing Council of Ministers can continue in a caretaker capacity till the new government takes the oath of office.
But in this case, with the huge row over the results of the assembly election in Bengal and Banerjee’s subsequent declaration that she will not quit, many have questioned why she should be allowed to continue in a caretaker capacity. Leaders of the BJP have called for her outright dismissal.
Her refusal to resign – unprecedented in the country’s electoral history — has also sparked much confusion about her status.
While according to the Constitution, Banerjee can technically be dismissed – at least till the election certification is complete — its execution depends on the Governor. After the election certification is issued by the Election Commission, a Chief Minister can no longer occupy office unless it is in a caretaker capacity.
The BJP, which won a massive mandate in the state’s recently concluded assembly election, is expected to have its cabinet take oath on Saturday, which would, in normal circumstances, keep a caretaker government in charge for two more days.
On Tuesday evening — a day after her party’s crushing defeat in the state assembly elections — Banerjee had argued that she had not lost the election and the mandate the BJP got was the result of “loot”.
“I have not lost, so I will not go to Raj Bhavan. I will not tender resignation,” she had told reporters at a press conference.
It sparked a massive political divide, with the Opposition bloc rallying around her and various leaders of the BJP seeking for her dismissal — a call that only the Governor can take.
Earlier today, the Trinamool Congress announced that it would go to court to challenge the results of the assembly election that ended its three terms in power.
